Green space to grow at Lake Placid's Lower Mill Pond

August 26, 2014

LAKE PLACID - Restoration work currently happening at Lower Mill Pond will turn the barren-looking worksite into a green space more closely resembling a park.

The Lake Placid sewer trunk project is winding down and some finishing touches are currently occurring. The last of the old decommissioned dam was removed by Kubricky Construction. Now the company is planting shrubs, trees, top soil and other vegetation, like cattails.

Public Works Superintendent Brad Hathaway said the entire project is nearly done and the restoration work is starting to take shape.

"The dam is finally completely removed, so the river restoration is almost complete," Hathaway said. "So now they are working on the wetland area with top soil and planting. After that's finished, that's about it."

Lower Mill Pond was drained last August to allow for the new trunk sewer line to be installed underneath it.

Carl Schwartz of U.S. Fish and Wildlife checked the site out recently for environmental concerns like water-flow, erosion, and to make sure fish can navigate the stream. Schwartz said he expects Lower Mill Pond will look great once finished.

"Right now there is a lot of dirt. You've got to give it a chance to green up to change from a construction site to a park," Schwartz said. "It's going to look a lot better in the middle of September."

After the sewer project is completed, there is a plan to create trails along the Chubb River. A pair of wooden bridges are proposed to be a part of the trail.

Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall said. The trail could also connect with other trails in North Elba. Randall had a mock sketch of what the trail system will potentially look like; however, there has not been any recent action taken by the village board to move forward with the plan.